Radiation

Radiation

Introduction

Radiation therapy has been used for the treatment of cancer since 1896, when a patient with an advanced stage of breast cancer was treated in Chicago. The patient's chest wall was exposed to radiation, and the tumor size was dramatically reduced. In radiation therapy, radiation damages the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of rapidly dividing tumor cells, causing them to die. In addition to destroying the cancer cells, the radiation prevents the tumor from developing the vascular tissues necessary to support tumor growth. The major problem with this type of treatment is that even when it is targeted to a specific tissue, normal healthy cells can also be killed. Optimization of this type of treatment is critical to the effective treatment of cancer, and advances in radiation therapy have increased its success rate.

Discussion

Radiation therapy utilized for cancer treatments includes external radiation therapy, internal radiation therapy, and systemic radiation therapy. The most common type of radiation therapy is external radiation therapy, which utilizes X-rays or gamma rays from an external source. The patient can receive this type of radiation therapy on an outpatient basis. External radiation therapy is used for all types of cancer treatments (Schlegel, 2006)

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Types of Radiation Therapies

Different types of radiation sources are used as an energy source for external radiation therapy, including X-rays, gamma rays, and particle beam radiation. X-rays and gamma rays are both forms of electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of X-rays is shorter than that of ultraviolet light, and gamma rays have even shorter wavelengths. The short wavelengths of X-rays translate into X-rays' having higher energy than ultraviolet light, and gamma rays have even higher energy than that. The penetrating power of these two types of radiation allows them to reach any part of the body from the outside. Another energy source for external radiation does not utilize electromagnetic radiation but instead uses a particle beam made of subatomic particles. This type of radiation therapy does not have the penetration power of X-rays or gamma rays. Because of this, it is most effective when used on cancer cells that are close to the surface (Loevinger, 2000).

Internal radiation therapy

Internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy, involves the implantation of a source of radiation inside the body, either inside or very near the tumor. Internal radiation therapy generally requires a hospital stay, as the patient needs to be isolated from the public, as his or her body contains a radioactive source. Nurses and care providers need to take precautions, such as shielding themselves and disposing of biohazardous wastes properly (Vicky, 2000).

Systemic radiation

Systemic radiation treatment involves ingestion of the radiation source (usually iodine 125 or iodine 131). This type of radiation treatment is often used for the treatment of thyroid cancers. The patient exudes radiation after this treatment and therefore requires special care during the course of treatment (Carter, 1996).

Development and Advancements in Radiation Therapy

As advances in targeting radiation therapy have come about, other research has focused on methods to prevent damage to healthy cells during radiation ...